Wrench



Sept' 8 1931.

Filed April 14, 1930 W m m u m I Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATESJOHN ZILLIOX, OF ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK WRENCH Appiioation mea April 14,

This invention relates to a wrench and more particularly to an open endmachine end wrench in which a plurality of open end machine wrench headshaving different sized jaws are employed in connection with the samehandle thereby decreasing the cost of a set of such wrenches as well aspermitting of a compact and convenient nesting of the same in a kit.

The present invention is an improvement on the wrench shown in my PatentNumber 1,764,379 dated June 17, 1930, for improvements in wrenches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide such a handle andopen end machine wrench heads therefor in which the heads can be quicklyapplied to or removed from the handle and when so applied are securelyheld .to the handle and operate reliably to permit the desired pressureto be applied to the ob jects gripped.

A still further aim is` to provide such an open end machine wrench whichis simple and `inexpensive and in which all of the more eX- pensivemanufacturing operations are performed on the handle since only onehandle is used in connection with a large number of heads. Y

Another aim is to provide an open end machine wrench of this characterin which the wrench head can be held in dii'erent positions relative tothe handle therebypermitting of its use in places where an open endmachine Awrench having a head set at a fixed angle could not beemployed, and in which such adjustment of the angularity of the head canbe eected eXpeditiously and will be reliably held. Another object is toprovide such a wrench in which the head is provided with a holereceiving a stem provided on the handle and in which means are providedboth between the stem yand the hole and between the exterior yof thewrench head and the handle for preventing turning of the handle relativeto the head when the head is iitted to the handle in any one of aplurality of positions. By providing` such exterior means for holdingthe head against turning in addition to the stern, a much strongerwrench is provided and the 1930.V Serial No. 444,020.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wrench embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1. l

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each of the severalviews.

In its general organization the wrench embodying `my invention comprisesa handle having a tapered end in which a parallel sided square stemprojects perpendicularly outward and a removable open end machine wrenchhead having a regular eight-pointed star shaped opening extendingtherethrough, the stem being adapted to be fitted into the -star-shapedopening in different positions thereby permitting said head to be heldin a number of positions relative to the handle. In addition to this therear end or shank of the wrench head is of polygonal form havingivefaces which are adapted to be arranged against a shoulder formed onthe handle inl each of the several positions of the head. By this lastmeans the strain upon the parts is borne jointly by the stem and by theshoulder on the handle and hence there is little danger of theconnection between the y head and the handle giving under an eXcessivestrain. f

The wrench is composed of a handle 10 to one side and at one end ofwhich the open end machine wrench head 11 is applied. The wrench handle10 can be of any suitable construction and is preferably hollowed out 0nits opposite sides for lightness and is provided with a hole or opening12at one end so that it can be hung up when not in use.

The opposite end 13 of the wrench is formed to prOvide a fiat face 14 onits under side which face is engaged by the upper Hat face of the openend machine wrench head 11. This face 14 is preferably set at an angleto the handle so that the head is held at a similar angle forconvenience in manipulating the wrench.

The wrench head 11 comprises a pair of jaws 15 and a. shank or neel; 16which is provided with a polygonal or star-shaped opening or recess 17.This opening extends through the neck 16 and receives a square stem 18which stem projects downwardly irom the l-lat tace 14 of the handle. Thestem is preferably made integral with thehandle. The opening 17 in thewrench head which receives the stem 18 is made in the form of aneight-pointed star, the points ot the star being right angular in shape,andbeing so disposed that the stem 18 can be fitted into the handle insuccessive angular positions relative to the handle. Thus the head canbe ar ranged at right angles to .the handle by en gagement of the stemwith the corresponding corners or points oit the star-shaped opening; itcan be arranged at a 90 angle to the steam as indicated by vfull lineslin I1`ig-2; or it can be arranged lengthwise of the handle as indicatedin Fig. 1. By this means any desired adjustment oi the wrench headrelative to the handle can be obtained by simply placing the head overthe stem 18 in the desired position and pressing the stem into theopening so as to eliiect a firm engagement between the head and thestem. j

Without the provision ot additional means to hold the headlat the anglesat which the head is place over the stem, there would be some danger ofthe wrench head `twisting free of the stem 18 when an excessive pressureis applied to the wrench. Thus the engagement between the stem 18 andthe star-shaped opening 17 is at the points or corners of 'the stem 8and an excessive Vpressure on the wrench might twist these corners orpoints ofi". VTo avoid this the shank 16 of the open end machine wrenchhead is made ofpolygonal 'l'orm havinglive faces 19, 2 07 21, 22 and 23,each of these faces being arranged at a 185 angle to the adjacent faceor faces. Adjacent the stem 18 and on theisame side of the wrench handlel() av shoulder or ridge 24 is formed to project from the wrench handle.This shoulder is formed to provide a l'lat perpendicular tace 25 whichfaces the stem 18;

lith this arrangement it is apparent that in each of the positions inwhich the wrench head may be placed upon the square stem 18, one oi thefaces19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 will engage the perpendicular face 25 of ytheshoulder or ridge 211. It is therefore apparent that the wrench is heldagainst turning both by the stem 18 and by theridge or shoulder 211 andthat therefore a heavy `pressure can b e exerted upon the wrench withoutdanger of breaking the` same or having the wrenchhead twist free of thewrenchhandle. In order to insure the proper connection spring 27`whichjbears; at one end against a ball 428. The ball and spring areretained .in the hole 26 by peening over the opposite edges olil theopening 26 or in any other well known and `usual. manner. The springloadedY ball 28 is arranged at the center oi' the face 25 and bearsagainst one of the faces 19, 20,21, 22 or 23 in vany of the adjustedpositions o'lE the `wrench head when the wrench head is appliedtothehandle. By th'iswmeans the ball exerts a. uniform frictionalresistance against the accidental displacement of the wrench head in allot' its adjusted positions. Y

It will be noted-'trom theftoregoing descriptions in connection with thedrawings that 4the joint between the head-,and the handle is very closeto the jaw ot'jthe head, whereby the latter can be made very small andthisnot only permits ofpackingthe wrenclrin a small spacefor conveniencein storage and equipment but also enables the wrench to be used. toadvantage when working in veryl close quarters. p therefore containsallrof the advantages inherent in an ordinary solid open end machinewrench with the added advantage oan adjustable headthat can beplacedatditl'erent angles relative to the handle whereby theV wrench canbeemployed for work which is dilicult of access. j j

As a whole this inventlonis .very simple in construction, it is compact,light and durable,

the `wrench .head is easily Aapplied to the handle and can be adjusted`to any `desired angle, the wrench and more particularly the wrenchheads can also be produced lat vvery lowcost thereby permitting ofmarketing this wrench at little more thanthe cost oi an integral .wrenchwhich does not posssess the features of ready adj ustability of thepresent invention. By.providingrtan lopen end inachine wrench headhaving a star-shaped opening and by providing a .handle havingprojections `engaging,both the opening and the exterior ot' the wrenchin all adjusted positions, the .wrench head is held against turningattwo places and the danger of the connection betweenfthe wrench headandthe handle breaking under severe strains is very materially reduced.

I claim as my invention :1 A wrench comprising a "handle having lalaterally projecting shoulder at one side and at one end, said shoulderbeing formed to This wrench provide a perpendicular flat face facing theend of said handle, a square stern projecting outwardly from said handlein the same direction as said shoulder and arranged between saidshoulder and the end of said handle and a wrench head having jaws and ashank, said shank being provided with a star-shaped opening formed oftwo superposed square openings, each being the size of said steinwhereby said star-shaped opening receives said steni in differentangular positions of said head relative to said handle and said head isheld in the selected angular position thereby and said shank also beingprovided with five exterior faces arranged at a angle to one another,one of said faces on said shank engaging the perpendicular face on saidshoulder in each selected angular position of said head and additionallyholding said head in the selected angular position.

In testimony whereof I hereby aiX my signature.

JOHN ZILLIOX.

